Covering Control Surfaces With Oratex 

Thanks for the kind words. I hope you enjoy your build, and the researching you're doing now will pay off when you're building.

Thanks!

Lol that's funny. I think my dad bought this loader almost 50 years ago. Hard to justify reloading 12 ga. target loads but still fun to put it to work on an occasion.

Much appreciated! I enjoy envying your skillset and knowledge as you keep us updated on your LSA. 🍻

Thanks Harlan. I was hoping you’d like the color. 😁

@@ColbyOsborn Love the color! haha

haha, I wish we could build at your speed! You're handier than I am so this probably wont apply, but I really appreciated having an extra set of hands when working on anything with a curve. That's the only tip I've got, lol.

@@ColbyOsborn I did notice the extra hands, I will have to recruit some help for sure. I had not thought of the need to reinforce around things that poke through the fabric… hmmm

Thanks! From my understanding, pinked edges with Oratex serve a primarily cosmetic purpose. While I personally like the aesthetic appeal of pinked edges, I have heard anecdotal accounts of pinked tapes lifting over time from several individuals. Although these are subjective experiences, they ultimately influenced my decision to opt for all straight cut tapes.

Ola bom dia, se puder por favor me passa o nome dessa tela e essa cola branca que você uza , vou procurar aqui no Brasil para comprar, gratidão. Wessiley

@@freitasn1029 It's Oratex 6000 and Oratex hotmelt glue. www.lanitz-aviation.com/

Jonathan would know better than I, but I think most agree that it'll save a bit of weight off your tail. Maybe we could get one of the other Model Five guys to get an accurate weight on their finished tail feathers so we could compare. It's a little bit compounding because you need less counter balance weight in the elevators. (The current kits come with enough counter balance weight installed for Oratex but you need to calculate and add some if going with a heavier fabric) It's really difficult for me to say if I would've been better off going a different direction because the tipping point for me was thinking the fabric would be in better shape in 10 years vs covered in something else that would be chipped and have ringworm. So I really need to wait and see how it holds up to UV and gravel to know. I think if I planned to operate off grass and pavement 99% of the time, I would've went a different direction mostly because of the price and lack of detailed comprehensive instructions. I still fully expect to be happy with going the Oratex route, but I'll weigh in a little more after finishing the fuselage. Long winded reply and I didn't even really answer you question, lol. Always appreciate what you have to say about the videos.

Thanks! The tail feathers came painted from the factory. I believe they apply a mill spec strontium chromate epoxy primer and then top coat with a mill spec epoxy paint. I scuffed it up pretty well before cleaning and applying the hot melt glue. While practicing I had a hard time getting a strong bond to unprimed aluminum sheet metal. It seemed to bond a lot better if I used some good self etching primer out of a rattle can first.

I believe that’s correct. Hope the second side goes smoothly for you!

Yeah - whats the name???

When using the finishing tapes I only put 1 thick coat of glue right on the seam. The glues only propose was to keep air from being trapped there. The finishing tapes come pre-glued and according to the documentation I received don’t required any additional glue.

Or how much did you buy so far :) :)

I ordered 33 meters of the 180 cm wide Oratex. I don't know exactly how much I have left but I'll certainly report how much I end up using once I finish the fuselage.

@@ColbyOsborn thanks for the reply. Sure love your videos. 👍🔥

I have not been keeping track but I would guess I average around 15 hours a week.

That’s correct

@@ColbyOsborn you re doing a great job with the covering! Uhh, I think the oracover s fantastic! It,s finished ,,all you need to do is fight through the frustrations of applying it. With the traditional process every stage can bring disaster and the stages are many. I have been following a build by an English guy called Algy Yates. He,s doing a Fisher Youngster. Really interesting. An old school craftsman. He is covering with Oracover 600. Check him out ohh the rib stitching looks really tedious. How many hour does that entail on say just the elevator??

Hello. Unfortunately a 6 cylinder Lycoming will be used on this plane, so I'm not really in tune with what the Rotax 912 is currently brining.

There is a second layer of Oratex over the ribs next to the holes. So it’s doubled up in the direction the lacing cord would want to tear through the fabric. But not doubled up directly underneath the holes. I haven’t noticed anyone using two layers of Oratex past where the holes are poked and it wasn’t a method covered in the instructions I received.

@@ColbyOsborn Okeedokee... Just asking :)

Simon reported a final weight of 2340 g for each counter balance tube balanced his ailerons perfectly so that’s what I used. The kit elevators come with counter balance weight already installed for Oratex, so I’m not sure how much weight was used for those.

???